Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Milan (Fides Service) – Father Piero Gheddo, missionary of PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) is one of the most known “missionary faces” in Italy and abroad. Ordained a priest on 28 June 1953 by Cardinal Ildefonso Schuster, later beatified, in 50 years of priesthood Father Gheddo has written more than 70 books, published thousands of articles in magazines and periodicals, produced radio and television programmes, all focused on the theme of mission ad gentes, which he was able to see for himself during 80 journeys in various parts of the world. Editor of Mondo e Missione review between 1959 and 1994, for 9 years he has been Director of the PIME History Office. To mark his priestly Jubilee he published a new book – and he could not have done otherwise - “La missione continua, Cinquant’anni al servizio della Chiesa e del terzo mondo” (San Paolo 2003, 364 pages). Fides Service spoke with Father Gheddo about his years of experience.
Father Gheddo tell us about this book on fifty years of mission ad gentes
I wanted to tell, documenting my words with my experience and the facts of the young Churches, how mission ad gentes has changed since 1953, that is in these fifty years of my priesthood and missionary journalism. The central idea that guided me was this: the young generations know little or nothing about pre-Council times (1962-1965) which I was able to follow close at hand, as an expert for the Missions Commission (appointed by John XXIII in 1962) and then as a journalist for the Osservatore Romano on the daily activities of the Council. I thought it would be interesting to start with a description of mission as it was in the 1950s and then to show how it has gradually changed. I emphasised the progress and the problems of the missionary world, indicating also ways to give new impulse to the work of proclaiming the Gospel and converting humanity to Christ, according to my experience as one who has visited and studied young Churches.
Today there is more talk of mission than yesterday, but missionary vocations and offerings are in decline. Perhaps because missionaries are seen as people who dig wells, build schools and hospitals, help the poor, orphans, prisoners, like the many humanitarian organisations.
I fear, and in the book I give my reasons, that today missionaries do not always appear to public opinion as they should: they are sent by the Church on mission ad gentes, to non Christians, therefore to evangelise and build up the Church “among those people and groups where she does not yet exist”. This means announcing Jesus Christ and baptising those who come to believe in him, starting small Christian communities all over the world (as the Ad Gentes decree says at n. 6) Therefore if the missionary is seen as a social worker, or with other roles however respected and not as an evangeliser, we cannot complain when vocations and offerings for the missions diminish
Do you think that mission ad gentes will ever have again its important place?
Yes, undoubtedly, because all men and women need the Gospel and it should not be forgotten that about half the human race, more than three billion people, has never heard of Jesus Christ. There are many new situations, unknown to those of us who live in countries of ancient Christianity. I am ever more convinced that mission ad gentes and the young Churches reaching out to non-Christians will renew new evangelisation in our countries which have behind them two thousand years of Christianity. They are already being renewed in pastoral and also in the enthusiasm of faith which leads to mission.
One of the themes of your book is connected with the world of communication. How can the media help evangelisation?
It is not enough to work at the service of the Gospel, we must also inform, communicate, tell about the workings of the Spirit all over the world. Very often, visiting missions, also recently in Indonesia, I have said to myself: here they live the early times of announcing the Gospel and the Spirit is working as in the time of the Apostles. The Spirit never grows old, he never retires. The young Churches could renew our own enthusiasm for the faith, if only we knew what was happening there and if missionaries lived their experience with the youthful wonder which comes with faith. We are too sick with pessimism, discouragement, we think that the world and the Church are going from bad to worse. This is not so. God is guiding the world and the Church, by the Holy Spirit and they are both on the way to the Kingdom of God. The life of the young Churches and the mission demonstrate this.
What do you think of Fides Service’s idea to offer space to young priests to express their ideas on themes which directly affect their ministry, evangelisation, human promotion?
I am pleased. One of the more positive signs of the modern work (of course there are also negative signs) is the development of the means of communications. Today everyone can have their say and this is important, particularly for young Churches, they must be able to communicate, to take part in discussions, share their experience.
What path must mission take in the third millennium to produce that Missionary Springtime called for by Pope John Paul II in Redemptoris missio?
Mission is a work of faith, without faith in Christ the only Saviour of mankind mission is incomprehensible. We are living a time of a weakening of missionary spirit, precisely because faith, at least in our countries of ancient Christianity, has become feeble; it has lost its former power. The time of certainties is over, today modern culture is one of weak thought, a philosophy of systematic doubt. In my book I stress this, giving concrete and positive examples because theories are not enough, our people will become Christians again when we are able to direct them to faith and to mission, as the Pope says: “Faith is strengthened when it is given to others! (RM 2).
The last chapter of your book is devoted to the “future of mission”…
The mission of the Church is always the same but it must change to adapt to the times, places and people. Mission must dialogue, with broad opening to local cultures, it must be committed to the promotion of individuals and peoples, giving priority to the excluded and human rights etc. always retaining the principle that Christ is the only Saviour of mankind. Moreover we must say that mission ad gentes is still only beginning. It suffices to think that in Africa, with more than 1000 languages, the Gospel has only been translated in 300 of them. Travelling though Asia there are immense regions in which there is nothing Christian, nothing Catholic. I am convinced that the theme of mission will become once again important for the Church in this era of globalisation. There are missionary values, being able to look beyond our borders, to consider all people equal and brothers, having a heart and a head as big as the world, which will always characterise believers in Christ. SL (Fides Service 27/6/2003 EM lines 92 Words: 1223)
